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Debt ‘Bigger Threat Than Virus’ in Cambodia
Many MFI loans are collateralised by land titles, leaving millions at risk of losing their homes and property should they default. Those forced to sell their land face abject poverty.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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The Blind Spot in Africa’s COVID-19 Response: Western Public Health Tactics Won’t Work – This Local Solution Might
The COVID-19 pandemic is primed to spread in Africa, and with just one doctor per 5,000 people, a major outbreak would overwhelm the continent’s health care systems. But as Anatole Manzi at Partners In Health points out, tactics like social distancing and hand-washing are not feasible in crowded slums and areas without clean water. He proposes a home-grown solution: training young people as community health workers.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Health Care
- Tags
- COVID-19, public health
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Mobile Money Becomes Lifeline as Telecoms Thrive in Covid-19 Era
Mobile money and data have emerged as the lifeline in revenue growth for African-focused telecoms operators Vodacom Group and Airtel Africa across markets characterised by stiff competition and challenging regulatory regimes.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Impact Investing and COVID-19: A Moment for Growth or a Flight From Risk?
The impact investing community is grappling with how the coronavirus crisis will affect growth and how entrepreneurs searching for capital in low-income countries will fare.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
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Biometrics Support Financial Services Efficiency in Malawi, Nigeria and Ghana as UNHCR Ramps Up in Niger
The biometrics business continues as normal in parts of Africa.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- digital identity
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Viewpoint: COVID-19 Response Must Target African Ag and the Rural Poor
Agriculture contributes to 65 percent of Africa’s employment and 75 percent of its domestic trade. Now the rich potential of agriculture as a tool to promote food security and fight poverty is at risk from the effects of COVID-19.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Coronavirus
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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When Digital Payment Goes Viral: Lessons from COVID-19’s Impact on Mobile Money in Rwanda
Cash can help spread COVID-19, so some African countries have ramped up efforts to expand digital payments to fight the virus. According to Isabelle Carboni and Hennie Bester at Cenfri, this imperative to digitize is one of the key opportunities to emerge from the pandemic. They explore the early experiences of Rwanda, in assessing the impact these efforts can have.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
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West Africa Facing Food Crisis as Coronavirus Spreads
Pandemic adds to jihadi and climate change threats to present ‘immense challenge’ for region.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- food security
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